Bag tying machine



A ril 21, 1964 R. GIBBONS BAG TYING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 6, 1961 INVENTOR. CHESTER R. GIBBONS ATTORNEY April 21, 1964 c. R. GIBBONS BAG TYING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 6 INV EN TOR.

CHESTER R. GIBBONS ATTORNEY April 21, 1964 c. R. GIBBONS 3,129,548

BAG TYING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 L\ \1 I6 I5 I3 FIG. 5

INVENTOR.

CHESTER R. GIBBONS AT TORNEY United States Patent 3,129,543 BAG TYIN G MACHINE Chester R. Gibbons, Guide Bldg, Canfield, Ohio Filed July 6, 1961, Ser. No. 122,260 4 Claims. ((31. 53-198) This invention relates to a machine that will aflix a tie to the neck of a bag in which various articles have been positioned and more particularly to a machine utilizing adhesive tape for forming the tie about the bag.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a bag tying machine which will rapidly and efficiently affix a tape about the neck of a bag.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a bag tying machine which is relatively simple in construction, has only a few moving parts and is capable of being operated automatically as by presenting the neck of a bag to a tying area of the machine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a bag tying machine utilizing an adhesive tape of the plastic film type which is self-adhering and capable of holding The bag tying machine disclosed herein comprises an improvement in the art in that machines heretofore proposed for afiixing ties to the open ends of bags in which articles are packed have been rather complicated and usually required the presence of an experienced operator. Such machines have applied string, cloth tape, wire, paper tape and combinations of wire and paper in an effort to satisfactorily close and tie the neck of the bag. The present machine utilizes a roll of adhesive tape of the plastic film tape having a self-adhering adhesive on one side which is unusually strong and which may be continuously fed into the machine by the action of the bags engaging the same and being tied thereby. The machine utilizes the adhesive tape in a unique manner in that an end thereof is continuously applied to a vertical surface of the machine adjacent the jaw area thereof and caused to stick thereto so that when a bag is presented to the jaw area the adherence of the tape to the machine is instrumental in determining the tightness and overlap of the adhesive tape positioned about the neck of the bag. The tape is thus in effect releasably held by the machine and released progressively by the machine as the bag tying operation progresses with the end of the tape reapplied to the machine and again secured thereto for the next operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of abag tying machine with an arrow indicating the movement of the neck of a bag thereinto.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the machine shown in FIGURE 1 showing the first step in the actuation of the machine, arrows indicating motion of the parts.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the machine shown in FIGURE 1 showing parts of the machine at an intermediate stage of the bag tying operation. FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the bag tying machine of FIGURE 1 showing a knife moved into position to cut the tape and resecure the same to the machine.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional detail on line 5--5 of FIGURE 1 showing the jaw area, the tape and the bag neck in relation thereto.

FIGURE 6 is a wiring diagram.

By referring to the drawings and FIGURE 1 in particular, it will be seen that the bag tying machine comprises a base 10 having an arm 11 on the lefthand side thereof on which is mounted a supporting disc 12 which in turn carries a roll of adhesive tape 13. The machine which is seen in top plan view in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4 includes a principal solenoid 14, the operating plunger 15 of which extends outwardly therefrom and is secured to the end of a rod 16 which in turn extends slidably through an elongated first jaw 17. A second jaw 18 is attached to the outer end of the rod 16 and is normally spaced in relation to the adjacent end of the first jaw 17. The first jaw 17 is mounted in a guide block 19 which is secured to the base 19 adjacent a bag entrance way which has oppositely tapered walls formed by a portion 20 of the guide block 19 and by a member 21 secured to the base 10 in oppositely disposed relation.

A pair of idlers 22, 22 are positioned on the base immediately adjacent the member 21 and so that the tape 13 trained thereover emerges from the idler 22 adjacent the forward side of the second jaw 18 and in back of the member 21 and the portion 20 of the guide block 19. The end section of the tape 13 is normally afiixed to the back surface of the portion 20 of the guide block 19 along a portion thereof extending inwardly to a notch 23 as will be hereinafter explained and illustrated in FIG- URES 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings.

It will thus be observed that the first jaw 17 and the second jaw 18 are reciprocally mounted relative to the member 21, the portion 20 and the guide block 19 and with respect to the base 10 so that the neck of a bag B shown positioned therein in FIGURE 1 forms a loop in the tape 13 and may be moved by the jaws 17 and 18 to the right as seen in FIGURE 1 when the solenoid 14 is energized.

In order that the solenoid 14 will be automatically energized when the neck of the bag B has been positioned as shown in solidlines in FIGURE 1, a switch 24 having an actuating arm 25 thereon is positioned on the base 10 and with the arm 25 extending into the area of the entrance Way immediately behind the neck of the bag B so that the arm 25 will be engaged by aportion of the neck of the bag B when the adjacent portion thereof is in the position illustrated. This is also illustrated in FIGURE 5 of the drawings. The switch 24 controls a circuit which energizes the solenoid 14 which moves the second jaw 18 against the loop of the tape 13 and the neck of the bag B so as to form a tight loop about the neck B of the bag which is then moved to the right as shown progressively in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 of the drawmgs.

By referring to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that broken lines show the initial positioning of the neck B of the bag and the loop of the tape 13 and that solid lines show the closing motion of the second jaw 18 thereagainst and the movement of the first jaw 17 thereby to the right thus peeling off the end section of the tape 13, which had been stuck to the back of the portion 20 of the guide block 19 U and in so doing forming the loop of tape 13 completely about the neck B of the bag and engaging the adhesive thereon over a section equal in length to the portion which had been stuck to the back of the portion 20. The neck of the bag is held in the small area between the first and second jaws 17 and 18 while this occurs. As seen in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, this has occurred and the jaws 17 and 18 have moved to the right to the end of their travel as occasioned by the solenoid 14 and substantial sections of the tape 13 adjacent the loop are now in adhesive engagement with one another. By referring again to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that a second solenoid 26 is mounted on the base and that the plunger 27 thereof is secured to an arm 28 which is positioned through a secondary guide block 29 and which arm 28 carries a knife 30 on its outermost end together with a pressure block 31. A second switch 32 mounted on the base 10 adjacent the solenoid 14 is positioned so that its actuating arm 33 will be engaged by a pin 34 carried on the plunger of the solenoid 14. The switch 32 controls a circuit which energizes the second solenoid 26.

It will thus be seen that the knife 30 is in transverse alignment with the slot 23 heretofore referred to and that the knife 30 will therefore engage the adhesive tape 13, sever it and at the same time the block 31 will insure the end of the tape 13 adhered to the portion as disclosed in FIGURE 4 of the drawings.

By referring again to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that a yoke 35 is attached to the plunger 15 of the solenoid 14 and connected by a pair of coil springs 36, 36 with a frame 37 positioned at the opposite end of the solenoid 14. The springs 36 normally hold the plunger 15 in extended position as shown in FIGURE 1 and the action of the solenoid 14 is therefore to move the plunger 15 to the right as seen in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings. De-energization of the solenoid 14 which occurs when the secondary solenoid 26 is energized permits the springs 36 to extend the plunger 15. The operation of the jaws 17 and 18 and knife 30 is practically simultaneous and it will be observed that the de-energization of the circuit controlling the solenoid 14 is occasioned by switches 38 and 39 which are positioned on the base 19 adjacent the mounting means of the secondary solenoid 26 and so positioned that they engage the opposite sides of one end of a rod 40 which is attached to the plunger 27 of the secondary solenoid 26 and normally biased towards the secondary solenoid 26 by coil springs 41, 41. Still referring to FIGURE 1, it will be observed that elongated members 42 and 43 extend from the means mounting the solenoids 14 and 26 to a tubular member 44 which is positioned vertically through the horizontal base 10 and forms a vertical support for the device.

Operation The bag tying machine disclosed herein when positioned adjacent a conveyer so that the necks of bags to be tied move progressively into the area between the jaws 17 and 18 will act first to reduce the area of the neck of the bag to a relatively small size as it enters the tapered entrance way of the device. When positioned between the jaws 17 and 18 the arm of the switch 24 is engaged by the neck of the bag to initiate the action which first causes the solenoid 14 to be energized whereupon the arm 16 moves the second jaw 18 to the right, see FIGURE 2, further compressing the neck of the bag and moving it against the first jaw 17 and begins to form a loop in the tape 13. This action continues until the loop of the tape about the neck of the bag is completely formed as shown in FIGURE 3 whereupon the pin 34 engages the arm 33 of the switch 32 energizing the second solenoid 26 which instantaneously moves the knife from its position adjacent the jaws 17 and 18 and into the position vacated by them to sever the tape 13 as shown in FIGURE 4. The action of the secondary solenoid 26 operates the switches 38 and 39 by way of the arm which is normally engaged thereby to interrupt the circuit supplying the solenoid 14 and thereby permitting the springs 36 to move the arm 15 back to the initial starting position. Simultaneously, the switches interrupt the circuit supplying the solenoid 26 which permits the springs 41 to retract the arm 28 and the knife 30. The device thus cycles automatically practically instantaneously and the jaws 17 and 18 free the bag which has been tied with the loop of the tape 13 and which tape has been severed by the knife 30 from the continuous tape supply. During the operation and precisely at the time the knife 30 has severed the tape 13 the pressure block 31 engages it adjacent the point where it is being severed and pushes it into engagement with the back of the portion 20 of the guide 19 where it adheres and is therefore ready for the formation of the next loop therein by the next bag presented to the device. In operation, the device cycles as rapidly as it is possible to feed bags thereinto. The time element during which the neck of the bag is compressed, the tape looped thereabout and its adhesive surfaces brought into contact with one another and then severed being so short that the bags are tied and freed almost instantaneously. Those skilled in the art will observe that various products can be packed in polyethylene bags; for example, or bags formed of other material and readily tied by the device disclosed herein. Such commodities as are now being packed in such bags and pre-priced for supermarket distribution comprise various paper articles including napkins; fruits including apples; vegetables including potatoes, etc. It will thus be seen that a bag tying machine meeting the several objects of the invention has been disclosed and having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A bag tying machine comprising a device having a pair of relatively movable jaws, one of which is elongated and has an opening axially therethrough and the other of which comprises a rod movably positioned through said opening with a member on the outer end thereof, and means for moving said jaws in a reciprocal manner relative to one another and relative to said machine, a supply of adhesive tape and a member adjacent said jaws having a flat surface against which a portion of said adhesive tape is normally adhered, said device arranged to receive bags to be tied between said relatively movable jaws and across the path of said adhesive tape, a knife positioned for movement transversely of the position normally occupied by said jaws and said tape for severing said tape and means for moving said knife responsible in operation to the position of said jaws.

2. The bag tying machine as set forth in claim 1 and wherein said knife has a pressure block adjacent thereto arranged to engage said tape to move it into adhering relation to said member.

3. The bag tying machine as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the means for moving said movable jaws com prises a solenoid and a plunger connected to said jaws and springs normally urging said plunger and said jaws in one direction and wherein the means for moving said knife comprises a second solenoid and a plunger connected to said knife.

4. A bag tying machine comprising a base disposed on a horizontal plane, an arm on said base and a coil on said arm supporting a roll of adhesive tape, idlers on said base engaging one side of said tape and oppositely disposed tapered guide members one of which has a vertically positioned flat surface against which one end of said tape is normally adhered, a first jaw having a longitudinal bore therethrough positioned on said base adjacent said jaw members for reciprocal motion relative thereto, a rod positioned through said bore in said first jaw and a second jaw secured to the one end of said rod, a solenoid on said base, the plunger of said solenoid being secured to said rod for moving said first and second jaws and spring means on said base engaging said plunger normally urging said jaws away from said solenoid, said jaws arranged to receive the neck of a bag presented to said oppositely disposed guide members and moved therebetween to form a partial loop in said tape, a switch positioned for engagement with said bag for closing a circuit energizing said solenoid, an arm reciprocally mounted on said base, a knife on said arm arranged to move transversely of the position of said jaws and said tape, a second solenoid, the plunger thereof being secured to said arm, springs on said base engaging said plunger of said second solenoid normally urging said knife toward said solenoid, energizing circuits for said solenoid and switch means actuated by said plunger of said first solenoid controlling said energizing circuit of said second solenoid and switch means actuated by said second solenoid controlling said energizing circuit for said first solenoid, said jaws arranged to move together when moved by said first solenoid to move said neck of said bag sidewardly relative to said guide members to complete said loop in said tape about said bag neck and to push the adhesive surfaces together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Platt July 1, 1958 2,970,416 Kreuger 'Feb. 7, 1961 3,015,925 Kreuger Jan. 9, 1962 

1. A BAG TYING MACHINE COMPRISING A DEVICE HAVING A PAIR OF RELATIVELY MOVABLE JAWS, ONE OF WHICH IS ELONGATED AND HAS AN OPENING AXIALLY THERETHROUGH AND THE OTHER OF WHICH COMPRISES A ROD MOVABLY POSITIONED THROUGH SAID OPENING WITH A MEMBER ON THE OUTER END THEREOF, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID JAWS IN A RECIPROCAL MANNER RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER AND RELATIVE TO SAID MACHINE, A SUPPLY OF ADHESIVE TAPE AND A MEMBER ADJACENT SAID JAWS HAVING A FLAT SURFACE AGAINST WHICH A PORTION OF SAID ADHESIVE TAPE IS NORMALLY ADHERED, SAID DEVICE ARRANGED TO RECEIVE BAGS TO BE TIED BETWEEN SAID RELATIVELY MOVABLE JAWS AND ACROSS THE PATH OF SAID ADHESIVE TAPE, A KNIFE POSITIONED FOR MOVEMENT TRANSVERSELY OF THE POSITION NORMALLY OCCUPIED BY SAID JAWS AND SAID TAPE FOR SEVERING SAID TAPE AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID KNIFE RESPONSIBLE IN OPERATION TO THE POSITION OF SAID JAWS. 